The Safety and efficiency of maritime traffic flow within ports remain the essential aims of the Dunkirk Pilot Station. Complying with these criteria involves specific requirements regarding to the reliability and the quality of service at the highest level. Pilotage must be considered as a key element of French Harbours competitiveness. Their growth has to respect Environment protection. Hence, The French Maritime Pilots Federation urges French pilot stations to adopt all measures driving to reduce the environmental impact relevant to Pilotage activities.
The Quality policy developed actually aims to:
– Optimize the Pilotage services provided to the ship Masters
– Meet all the requirements of public service entrusted to by the French State, especially those connected to the protection of human being,
of harbours infrastructures and of the environment, and also to the duty of reporting vessels deficiencies threatening maritime safety, reinforced by recent European laws
– Render available all equipment required for the highest level of quality and reliability, and to use them efficiently
– Insure a continuous and appropriate training for the pilots and personnel
– Implement an efficient internal organization.
The pilot station of Dunkirk using ISO 9001 as a support for its quality policy is committed to implement all means necessary to ensure the full success of this approach whose aim is the continuous improvement of the quality of service management and customer satisfaction.
Quality Charter of the French Pilots
Maritime Pilots shall commit themselves :
- To observe and apply the Station Quality documents.
- To serve ships under the best safety conditions.
- To inform Captains of the pilotage operation details, their maneuvering intentions and to ascertain they have been understood before proceeding.
- To report to the Harbour Master and the ships in the vicinity all relevant information about safetyand efficiency of the traffic flow, as well as any information regarding the port security.
- To be courteous towards Captains, Agents and other interested parties in the framework of their activities.
- Not to contract any agreement with any parties involved in the pilotage operations, in order to preserve their freedom of action and an objective judgement, in the general interest of traffic and safety.
- To inform the ship’s Agent as soon as possible of any accident occurring during the pilotage operation.
- To report immediately to the Port Office, and/or to the appropriate Maritime Authority, any accident, incident, ship deficiencies, and any remark liable to affect the safety of navigation, the protection of environment and the integrity of harbour works.
- To report in due course to the Ships’ Safety Office (Port State Control) any deficiency noticed on board ships and likely to affect the safety of life at sea, the safety of navigation, and the protection of environment.
- To maintain and update their technical and legal knowledge for the sake of good pilotage practice.